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Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.17 $21.30
12 bottles: $17.52
A very ripe, jammy cabernet franc with sweet cherries, baked strawberries and licorice spices. Very rich and fruity...
JS
90
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.94 $16.25
Bright yellow color with green hues. The bouquet diplays aromas of passion fruit, mango and citrus. Balanced taste...
White
750ml
Bottle: $26.93
This has notes of grapefruit, toasted pineapple, grilled herbs and beeswax. It’s full-bodied, layered and...
12 FREE
JS
92
Red
750ml
Bottle: $109.93
6 bottles: $107.73
12 FREE
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $30.24 $33.60
100% Cabernet Franc from the Ampeleia di Sopra parcels at 450-600 meters above sea level. Vines were planted between...
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Red
Red
750ml
Bottle: $65.82
12 bottles: $64.50
Once at the winery, the grapes undergo native fermentation with no added sulfites, resulting in a living wine that is...
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Red
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.24 $17.09
12 bottles: $13.18
Salmon-pink. Fine and elegant nose with ripe red berries aromas and hints of black pepper. Enjoyable wine, fruit...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $33.93
12 bottles: $33.25
100% Cabernet Franc. Close to the town of Chinon, Clos Guillot is a hillside vineyard with S-SW exposure, near the...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $24.94 $27.60
100% Cabernet Franc. The Grézeaux vines are the Baudry’s oldest at around 50 years and were the very first part of...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.93
12 bottles: $19.53
Ripe and rich aromas of dark berries with a hint of pencil shavings, this is an approachable full-bodied red wine...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $22.95
12 bottles: $22.49
100% Cabernet Franc from three vineyard sites - Barrow, Morehouse Rd., and Auten. The Vin d'Eté Cab Franc is made in...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $25.95
12 bottles: $25.43
100% Cabernet Franc from Auten and Barrow Vineyards - vines from the hillside Barrow Vineyard off of Seneca Lake are...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.34
12 bottles: $18.95
Reddish tones of medium to high intensity. On the nose this wine expresses all the elegance of the varietal; bell...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $14.34 $15.09
12 bottles: $12.36
Aromas of raspberries and plums are the centerpiece, with polished tannins completing the symphony.
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $22.40
A seductively floral, fruity and vibrant nose with a good lift of freshness and fruit. Crushed stones, blueberries,...
JS
94
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $51.19
6 bottles: $48.00
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $63.19
6 bottles: $60.00
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $90.79
6 bottles: $85.20
Compelling scents of cigar tobacco, dried herbs, dried flowers and toffee impress; flavors include oak, dates, prunes...
12 FREE
UBC
96
VM
95

Armagnac Assyrtiko Cabernet Franc Mencia

Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.

Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.

Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.

Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.

The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.

Additional Information on Greek Wines


Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?

Cabernet Franc is not simply an important grape varietal for the fact that it is one of the most widely grown strains of vine in the world, but also because it is a vital grape in the production of many of the finest wines the world has ever seen. For centuries in its native France, it has been a varietal synonymous with elegance and high quality, and has become a key fruit in the production of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blended wines which have gone down in history thanks to their magnificent flavors, aromas and levels of aged complexity. However, Cabernet Franc is also a wine grape varietal for use in single variety, unblended wines, and has plenty to offer on its own. Most commonly, it is renowned for its wide bouquet, which often includes fascinating notes of tobacco, violets or bell pepper over a beautifully pale and decadent liquid.